Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences (Mar 2021)

Engineered CRISPR/Cas13d Sensing hTERT Selectively Inhibits the Progression of Bladder Cancer In Vitro

  • Chengle Zhuang,
  • Changshui Zhuang,
  • Qun Zhou,
  • Xueting Huang,
  • Yaoting Gui,
  • Yongqing Lai,
  • Shangqi Yang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2021.646412
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Aptazyme and CRISPR/Cas gene editing system were widely used for regulating gene expression in various diseases, including cancer. This work aimed to reconstruct CRISPR/Cas13d tool for sensing hTERT exclusively based on the new device OFF-switch hTERT aptazyme that was inserted into the 3’ UTR of the Cas13d. In bladder cancer cells, hTERT ligand bound to aptamer in OFF-switch hTERT aptazyme to inhibit the degradation of Cas13d. Results showed that engineered CRISPR/Cas13d sensing hTERT suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induced cell apoptosis in bladder cancer 5637 and T24 cells without affecting normal HFF cells. In short, we constructed engineered CRISPR/Cas13d sensing hTERT selectively inhibited the progression of bladder cancer cells significantly. It may serve as a promising specifically effective therapy for bladder cancer cells.

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